I am wishing you a Happy Friday as my first words, because this is not my typical Friday post.

It is a tribute to a man I knew in college whom I consider a hero. As a Fraternity brother, he was there for his brothers in their pain and time of struggle with how to be men in the face of despair. As a family man, he was a humble husband and father. He was so exemplary in his engineering research that the navy requested his time to help fallen servicemen. As a professor, he protected his students to his final moments.

I came home from an indoor soccer game, tired but happy as I pulled into the driveway giving one of my fraternity brothers a huge smile and wave.

With a concerned look upon his face, he stopped me. He explained that Tony had collapsed during a basketball game and was taken to the hospital.

About 30 minutes later we heard he was gone. Twenty-five young men slunk into the dinning area to be together but no one had words of strength or courage.

Finally, Kevin walked in and began speaking to us.

Being one who was close to Tony since they came from the same city to the Ohio State campus, Kevin was in contact with the family. More than just sharing information, his courage in facing the devastating loss of a brother was inspiring. Three days later when we were faced with going to Tony’s funeral, Kevin spoke again. His strength astounded us, sharing that we would be a treasured support for his family by carrying the casket, and explained the procedures of the service for those who had not been to a catholic funeral, or any funeral for that matter.

On April 16th, 2007, Kevin was a professor at Virginia Tech when he heard shooting on the floor below his office where he was working. Multiple classrooms had been entered and lives taken. Keven went to a nearby classroom and retrieved the students as well as the teacher from their vulnerable location.

Escorting them to his office, he closed he locked door with all the students inside. The two men went to find a clear escape route for the college kids by traveling down the nearby stairwell.

Instead, coming out of the staircase, they walked into the path of the shooter.

The other professor was shot but retreated to a restroom. He survived to tell the story of Kevin leading those students to safety as the shooter never found them.

Kevin displayed his exemplary character in all situations. HIs strength was evident to his Fraternity brothers, the navy men with whom he worked, and his family. To give any tribute to Kevin is to honor the man he was to be, the man he became, and the man any of us could strive to be.